2017 event has old favorites and a few new wrinkles

Published at 7:29 AM PDT on Mar 28, 2017

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Details for 2017 Padres FanFest are out. This year the annual event takes place on Saturday, April 1 at Petco Park.

The traditional treats like autograph sessions with Padres players, coaches, broadcasters and alumni will be available again this year. So will the annual Garage Sale where fans can buy hard-to-find Padres items like game-used jerseys, batting helmets and 2016 All-Star Game memorabilia. Proceeds go to the Padres Foundation.

There will also be a Q&A session with Padres players, coaches, executives and broadcasters beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the Park at the Park stage and fans will also be able to tour the recently opened Padres Hall of Fame located on K Street behind the left field seating area.

The Park at the Park will have a series of KidsFest activities and Padres players will hold a special clinic at the whiffle ball field. Starting at 1:00 p.m. fans can watch the team take batting practice with a twist. Some BP balls will have unique marks on them and can be turned in for a special prize. The outfield grandstand seats will be open for the BP session, after which kids will have the opportunity to run the bases on the field.

As always admission to the event is free but THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! You have to pre-register. So if you want to attend you have to visit www.padres.com/fanfest, where you can secure up to eight tickets.

Gates open at 10:00 a.m. for the general public with entrance points through the Home Plate, East Village and Gaslamp gates. Free parking is available in Padres-owned lots around the ballpark on a first-come, first served basis. Padres Members (who can enter the event at an hour earlier at 9:00 a.m.) will be able to pre-register for a complimentary parking pass through their online account.

Standard Petco Park security and screening procedures will be in place for Padres FanFest. Re-entry will be permitted for FanFest events, but fans who exit will be screened again upon re-entry into the ballpark.